Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider seems happy flying well below the radar. Coach Pete Carroll essentially is the face of the franchise, getting most of the credit for the roster he's built in three seasons.

Schneider is so under the radar that no one even knew that he signed a contract extension through 2016. (Apparently he signed the deal more than a year ago, but it was a mystery until ESPN.com's Mike Sando reported it on Friday. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport confirmed the news) Schneider's deal goes two years longer than Carroll's, who is probably due for a new contract soon, too.

There was plenty of skepticism when Schneider arrived with the Seahawks via the Green Bay Packers. Many folks thought Carroll was just looking for a "yes man" or figurehead to operate the personnel department while Carroll pulled the strings. But Schneider has proven to be a perfect match, adept at finding talents to fit Carroll's schemes.

The Seahawks think differently than a lot of teams. Their draft picks often are surprises, and they often have worked out like gangbusters. Schneider deserves to be known because he's evolved into one of the best general managers in the NFL.